Information providing method information providing system, and information server apparatus

ABSTRACT

In an information serving system ( 1 ) including an information device ( 11 ) capable of setting a user identifier carrying a medium type indicating an information type the information device ( 11 ) is compatible with and identifying an information-provided user and also capable of connection to a network, and an information serving device to which the information device ( 11 ) is connected via the network, the information serving device includes databases ( 23, 24 ) having recorded therein, in association with each other, user profile data indicating information to be provided correspondingly to a user identifier, and content data associated with a medium type and information genre, respectively, and a request handling computer ( 21 ) which searches, upon request from the information device, the database for content data to acquire the content data and supplies the information device ( 11 ) with the content data as a one of the medium type the information device ( 11 ) is compatible with. Thus, the information providing system enables an information device without any complicated input unit to acquire information from on the Internet for utilization thereof and also an information provider to provide information without so much awareness of the type of a device used by an information acquirer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an information providing method,information providing system and an information serving device, destinedform providing information from an information server in the Internet touser terminals.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Recently, the Internet based on TCP/IP (TelecommunicationsProtocol Internet Protocol) has rapidly been prevailing. There have beenbuilt various types of information providing systems. Each of themprovides information from an information server via WWW (World WideWeb), a global information communications system.

[0003] For printing out a desired one of images available on theInternet, an image file including the image is acquired as digital datato a personal computer or the like, the digital data in the acquiredimage file is converted into raster data, printing raw data including aprinter control code written in a predetermined format and to which aprinter used with the personal computer is generated from the rasterdata, and the printing raw data thus generated is sent to the printer.

[0004] Although there is a great amount of information providedavailably on the Internet, the acquisition of such information islimited to about two methods: viewing via a browser and reception viaE-nail (electronic mail), television-related information cannot beacquired by any TV receiver, and CD (compact disk)-related informationcannot be acquired by any CD player. Namely, a separate device foraccess to the Internet is always required in addition to the mediainherently used for viewing or acquiring the information, such as the TVreceiver, CD player and the like.

[0005] The above limited acquisition of the information available on theInternet is very inefficient, and digital data in a content to beprinted out will be stored in the personal computer. Namely, the digitalinformation will possibly be copied illegally.

[0006] On the other hand, even if the Internet has been prevalent moreand more, the information provider, especially, an advertiser orsponsor, could not limit his advertising media to the Internet withceasing to provide the information via the conventional other media. Theadvertiser or sponsor should still produce many contents for provisionover many media and provide the information via many routes. That is,the Internet is an extra medium add to the conventional media.

[0007] Also, since the TV receiver, CD player or the like has no inputunit like a keyboard, it is extremely difficult to set user identifiersand passwords necessary when using the Internet, which has been anobstacle for a user wanting to use the Internet.

[0008] Further, information provision and sales marketing over theInternet will have an inclination to be weighted for some people able toaccess the Internet.

[0009] On the other hand, to print out a desired one of images availableon the Internet, an image file including the image is download to apersonal computer or the like and provisionally stored there, and thusdigital data in the image file is easily copied illegally.

[0010] Accordingly, the present invention has a primary object toovercome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the related art by enabling aninformation device without any complicated input unit to acquireinformation from on the Internet for utilization thereof and also aninformation provider to provide information without so much awareness ofthe type of a device used by a user who acquires information (which willbe referred to as “information acquirer” or, “information-provided user”hereinafter wherever appropriate) to acquire the information.

[0011] The present invention has also a secondary object to provide amethod, system and apparatus, destined for providing information withthe capability of preventing illegal copy of images and the likeavailably existent on the Internet.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The above first object can be attained by providing a method ofproviding information, via a network, to an information device capableof setting a user identifier carrying a medium type indicating aninformation type matching the information device and identifying aninformation-provided user, and also capable of connection to thenetwork, the method including, according to the present invention, thesteps of issuing a user identifier to a user who makes a contract for aninformation service, and entering and storing user profile dataindicating information to be provided correspondingly to the useridentifier; searching, upon request from the information device, adatabase having recorded therein content data associated with a mediumtype and information genre to acquire the information to be providedbased on the user profile data; and providing the information as contentdata of the medium type matching the information device to theinformation device via the network.

[0013] Also, the above first object can be attained by providing amethod of providing information, via a network, to an information devicecapable of setting a user identifier carrying a data type indicating aninformation type matching the information device and identifying aninformation-provided user, and also capable of connection to thenetwork, the method including, according to the present invention, thesteps of issuing a user identifier to a user who makes a contract for aninformation service, and entering and storing user profile dataindicating information to be provided correspondingly to the useridentifier; searching, upon request from the information device, adatabase having recorded therein content data associated with a mediumtype and information genre to acquire, from the database, information tobe provided based on the user profile data; and converting theinformation into content data of the data type matching the informationdevice according to data conversion information for conversion ofinformation in data type from one into another, and providing theinformation to the information device.

[0014] Also, the above first object can be attained by providing aninformation providing system including, according to the presentinvention, an information device capable of setting a user identifiercarrying a medium type indicating an information type matching theinformation device and identifying an information-provided user, andalso capable of connection to a network; and an information servingdevice to which the information device is connected via the network, theinformation serving device including a database having recorded thereinuser profile data indicating information to be served correspondingly tothe user identifier and content data associated with a medium type andinformation genre; and a request handling means for searching, uponrequest from the information device, the database to acquire the contentdata from the database and supplying the information device with thecontent data as content data of a medium type matching the informationdevice.

[0015] Also, the above first object can be attained by providing aninformation providing system including, according to the presentinvention, an information device capable of setting a user identifiercarrying a data type indicating an information type matching theinformation device and identifying an information-provided user, andalso capable of connection to a network; and an information servingdevice to which the information device is connected via the network, theinformation serving device including a database having recorded thereinuser profile data indicating information to be served correspondingly tothe user identifier for a user having made a contract for informationservice, content data associated with a medium type and informationgenre and data conversion information for conversion of information indata type from one into another; a data converting means for convertingcontent data in data type from one into another; and a request handlingmeans for searching, upon request from the information device, thedatabase having recorded therein the content data associated with thedata type and information genre to acquire, from the database,information to be provided based on the user profile data, convertingthe information by the data converting means according to the dataconversion information into content data of the data type matching theinformation device, and providing the information to the informationdevice.

[0016] Also the above first object can be attained by providing aninformation serving device to which there is connected via a network aninformation device capable of setting a user identifier carrying amedium type indicating an information type matching the informationdevice and identifying an information-provided user, and also capable ofconnection to a network is connected via the network, the informationserving device including, according to the present invention, a databasehaving recorded therein user profile data indicating information to beserved correspondingly to the user identifier and content dataassociated with a medium type and information genre; and a requesthandling means for searching, upon request from the information device,the database to acquire the content data from the database and supplyingthe information device with the content data as content data of a mediumtype matching the information device.

[0017] Also the above first object can be attained by providing aninformation serving device to which there is connected via a network aninformation device capable of setting a user identifier carrying a datatype indicating an information type matching the information device andidentifying an information-provided user, and also capable of connectionto a network is connected via the network, the information servingdevice including, according to the present invention, a database havingrecorded therein user profile data indicating information to be servedcorrespondingly to the user identifier for a user having made a contractfor information service, content data associated with a medium type andinformation genre and data conversion information for conversion ofinformation in data type from one into another; a data converting meansfor converting content data in data type from one into another; and arequest handling means for searching, upon request from the informationdevice, the database having recorded therein the content data associatedwith the data type and information genre to acquire, from the database,information to be provided based on the user profile data, convertingthe information by the data converting means according to the dataconversion information into content data of the data type matching theinformation device, and providing the information to the informationdevice.

[0018] The above second object can be attained by providing aninformation providing method including, according to the presentinvention, the steps of generating, when printing out data available onthe Internet, printing raw data including raster data in a to-be-printedimage and printer control command at a data sending side on theInternet; and sending the printing raw data thus generated.

[0019] Also the above second object can be attained by providing aninformation providing system including an information serving device anduser-side printer both connected thereto via the Internet, theinformation serving device operating to search, upon print request fromthe user-side printer, a database for data corresponding to the printrequest; generate printing raw data including raster data in ato-be-printed image in the data read from the database and printercontrol command; and sending the printing raw data thus generated viathe Internet.

[0020] Also the above second object can be attained by providing aninformation serving device operating to search, upon print request fromthe user-side printer, a database for data corresponding to the printrequest; generate printing raw data including raster data in a tobe-printed image in the data read from the database and printer controlcommand; and sending the printing raw data thus generated via theInternet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the informationproviding system according to the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 2 schematically illustrates information included in userinformation in the information providing system in FIG. 1.

[0023]FIG. 3 schematically illustrates information included in contentinformation in the information providing system in FIG. 1.

[0024]FIG. 4 schematically illustrates information included in a historyof information provision in the information providing system in FIG. 1.

[0025]FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates a flow of operations includingfrom registration of user information up to setting and storage of theuser information in an information device in the information providingsystem in FIG. 1.

[0026]FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates a flow of operations made forperiodic information provision in the information providing system inFIG. 1.

[0027]FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates a flow of operations made foruser's active acquisition of information by designating the informationin the information providing system in FIG. 1.

[0028]FIG. 8 diagrammatically illustrates a flow of operations made forchanging entered information in the information providing system in FIG.1.

[0029]FIG. 9 diagrammatically illustrates a flow of operations made forupdating settings of the information device in the information providingsystem in FIG. 1.

[0030]FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of theinformation providing system according to the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 11 schematically illustrates information included in userinformation in the information providing system in FIG. 10.

[0032]FIG. 12 schematically illustrates information included in contentinformation in the information providing system in FIG. 10.

[0033]FIG. 13 schematically illustrates information included in ahistory of information provision in the information providing system inFIG. 10.

[0034]FIG. 14 schematically illustrates information included in dataconversion information in the information providing system in FIG. 10.

[0035]FIG. 15 diagrammatically illustrates a flow of operationsincluding those up to entry of user information and setting and storageof the user information in an information device and those from entry ofinformation by the information provider up to user's acquisition of theinformation, when data type of the information is converted by theexchange of information designating the user, in the informationproviding system in FIG. 10.

[0036]FIG. 16 diagrammatically illustrates a flow of operations made foruser's acquisition of information, when the information is selectedaccording to a requested data type by the exchange of informationdesignating the user, in the information providing system in FIG. 10.

[0037]FIG. 17 diagrammatically illustrates a flow of operationsincluding from user's acquisition of an information list up toacquisition of information when the user acquires information byselecting it from information entered in the information providingsystem in FIG. 10 through conversion of a data type of the information.

[0038]FIG. 18 diagrammatically illustrates a flow of operationsincluding from user's acquisition of an information list up toacquisition of information when the user acquires information byselecting it from information entered in the information providingsystem in FIG. 10 through information selection made according to arequested data type.

[0039]FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of theinformation providing system according to the present invention.

[0040]FIG. 20 illustrates a flow of operations, made in the informationproviding system in FIG. 19, for printing out data available on theInternet.

[0041]FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of theinformation providing system according to the present invention, inwhich the printer is provided with a printing raw data generator.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0042] The present invention will be described in detail herebelowconcerning the embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated in the form of ablock diagram the first embodiment of the information providing systemaccording to the present invention. The information providing system isgenerally indicated with a reference number 1.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing system 1 includes auser-side information device 11 and setting terminal 12, a server-siderequest handling computer 21, setting handling computer 22, user profiledatabase 23, content database 24, information provision history database25 and a content management computer 26.

[0045] The user-side information device 11 is capable of providing theuser with information in the form of sound, image or paper. It isconnected to the server-side request handling computer 21 and settinghandling computer 22 via networks 31 and 32. The information device 11is supplied with a user ID from a user and sends the user ID to theserver-side setting handling computer 22, while receiving handling modesetting information from the setting handling computer 22. Informationrequired for connection to the setting handling computer 22 has beenpre-recorded or is supplied from the user. The received handling modesetting information is stored along with the user ID in the informationdevice 11. Also, the information device 11 has pre-stored therein typesof information the information device 11 can provide (sound, image,paper or the like; will be referred to as “medium type” hereinafter).The information device 11 having handling mode setting information anduser ID stored therein sends a user ID and medium type to theserver-side request processing computer 21 at a designated time if aperiodic information acquisition has been designated in the handlingmode setting information, acquires information of an entered genre fromthe request handling computer 21 in a form corresponding to the mediumtype and provides the information to the user. Also, the informationdevice 11 is provided with a user interface allowing the user toselectively acquire desired information.

[0046] The user-side setting terminal 12 has a WWW browser, for example,installed therein. It is connected to the server-side setting handlingcomputer 22 via a network 33 such as Internet, displays a screenprovided by the server-side setting handling computer 22, accepts inputdata and sends the input data to the setting handling computer 22. Then,the setting terminal 12 presents, to the user, a user ID which will besent subsequently from the setting handling computer 22. The settingterminal 12 may be an independent device but it may be a one integralwith the information device 11. In the latter case, the informationdevice 11 can conveniently acquire information, enter and changesettings.

[0047] The server-side request handling computer 21 is connected to theuser profile database 23, content database 24 and information provisionhistory database 25 via a network 27, and also to the user-sideinformation device 11 via the network 31. The request handling computer21 can receive data such as a user ID, media type, information genre andcontent ID. Also, the request handling computer 21 can search the userprofile database 23 to acquire an entered information genre and contentID corresponding to the user ID. Also, the request handling computer 21searches the content database 24 according to the information genre,content ID and a medium type designated by the information device 11 toacquire a content, converts the content into a form corresponding to themedium type if necessary, and sends the converted content to theinformation device 11. Further, the request handling computer 21 canwrite a history into the information provision history database 25 eachtime information is provided to the user.

[0048] The server-side setting handling computer 22 is connected to theuser profile database 23 and content database 24 via the network 27, andconnected to the user-side information device 11 and setting terminal 12via the networks 31 and 32, respectively. The setting handling computer22 provides a setting screen to the user-side setting terminal 12,writes an input content supplied at the setting terminal 12 into theuser profile database 23, and issues a user ID. When providing a settingscreen, the setting handling computer 22 searches the content database24, and generates and provides an information genres list and contentslist. The user ID may be determined by either the setting handlingcomputer 22 or by the user profile database 23. Also, receiving a userID from the user-side information device 11, the setting handlingcomputer 22 can search the user profile database 23 to acquire handlingmode setting information for the information device 11, and transfer theinformation to the information device 11.

[0049] Also, the server-side user profile database 23 has userinformation recorded therein, and can provide information hit by asearch requested. Also, the server-side user profile database 23 canrecord user information upon request.

[0050] User information recorded to the user profile database 23 will bedescribed herebelow:

[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, the user information includes at least userID, periodically distributed content, periodic-distribution schedule,advertisement genre and connection-destination address associated witheach other.

[0052] The “user ID” is an identifier by a number, symbol or the likeassigned to each user for unique identification of the latter.

[0053] The “periodically distributed content” is an information genre IDor content ID entered for a user having an associated user ID and whodesires a periodic content distribution. The “information genre ID” and“content ID” will be discussed later.

[0054] The “periodic-distribution schedule” is time information such asdate, day of week, time and the like of a periodic distribution enteredfor a user having an associated user ID and who desires a periodiccontent distribution.

[0055] The “advertisement genre” is entered as an information genre inwhich a user having an associated user ID is interested and which isused to determine information to be inserted as an advertisement at thetime of information provision.

[0056] The “connection-destination address” is an identifier, on thenetworks, of the request handling computer 21 to which a user having anassociated user ID makes connection when he or she requests informationprovision. This identifier is determined by a user's address and a genreor the like of information which, the user desires, is provided.

[0057] Also, the server-side content database 24 has content informationrecorded therein, and can provide information hit by a search requested.Also, the content database 24 can record content information uponrequest.

[0058] Content information recorded to the content database 24 will bediscussed herebelow:

[0059] The content information includes at least content ID, informationgenre ID, content location and medium type associated with each other asshown in FIG. 3.

[0060] The “content ID” is an identifier by a number, symbol or the likefor unique identification of a content.

[0061] The “information genre ID” is an identifier by a number, symbolor the like indicating the type of a content having an associatedcontent ID.

[0062] The “content location” is an identifier by a number, symbol orthe like indicating a location where a content is stored in associationwith other data.

[0063] The “medium type” is an identifier by a number, symbol or thelike indicating of which type the device capable of outputting a contentis.

[0064] Note that a content may not be stored in a location inside thesystem but may be stored in an external web site. In the latter case,more contents can be provided.

[0065] Also, the server-side information provision history database 25has an information provision history recorded therein, and can provideinformation hit by a search requested. Also, the information provisionhistory database 25 can record an information provision history uponrequest.

[0066] Information provision history recorded to the informationprovision history database 25 will be discussed herebelow:

[0067] An information provision history includes at least user ID, dateof information provision, ID for a content having been provided andmedium type as shown in FIG. 4.

[0068] The “user ID” is any of user IDs recorded in the user profiledatabase 23, and it is an identifier by a number, symbol or the like foridentification of a user having requested information service.

[0069] The “date of information provision” is a date when informationservice has been made.

[0070] The “provided-content ID” is any of content IDs recorded in thecontent database 24, and it is an identifier by a number, symbol or thelike for identification of a content having been provided to the user.

[0071] The “medium type” is an identifier by a number, symbol or thelike indicating of which type the information having been provided is.

[0072] Further, the server-side content management computer 26 isconnected to the content database 24 via the network 27, and can controlthe content database 24 to add and delete a content.

[0073] Note that although the networks 31, 32 and 33 in the informationproviding system 1 shown in FIG. 1 are illustrated and explained asdifferent ones, they may be identical to each other or may be theInternet. Also, if the server-side request handling computer 21, settinghandling computer 22 and content management computer 26 are connected tothe databases they need, respectively, they may not be connected to oneanother.

[0074] The information providing system 1 constructed as above functionsas will be described below:

[0075] To make a sequence of operations up to entry of user informationand setting and storage of the user information in the informationdevice 11, the information providing system 1 will go through steps S1to S16 shown in FIG. 5.

[0076] Namely, first in step S1, a user 10 operates his or her settingterminal 12 to make a request for start of information entry.

[0077] In step S2, the setting terminal 12 is connected to the settinghandling computer 22 for requesting one or both of an information genreslist and contents list.

[0078] In step S3, the setting handling computer 22 requests the contentdatabase 24 for generation of the information genres list and contentslist.

[0079] In step S4, the content database 24 generates the informationgenres list and contents list and sends them to the setting handlingcomputer 22.

[0080] In step S5, the setting handling computer 22 sends the receivedinformation genres list and contents list to the setting terminal 12.

[0081] In step S6, the setting terminal 12 presents the receivedinformation genres list and contents list to the user 10, and acceptsnecessary inputs.

[0082] In step S7, the setting terminal 12 sends the supplied inputs tothe setting handling computer 22.

[0083] In step S8, the setting handling computer 22 records theinformation sent from the setting terminal 12 to the user profiledatabase 23.

[0084] In step S9, the user profile database 23 generates a unique IDand records it as a user ID when recording to the database, and sendsthe user ID to the setting handling computer 22.

[0085] In step S10, the setting handling computer 22 sends the user IDto the setting terminal 12.

[0086] In step S1, the setting terminal 12 transmits the user ID to theuser 10. The user ID can be transmitted by various methods such asscreen display, printing, write to a recording medium, etc.

[0087] In step S12, the user 10 having received the user ID will supplythe received user ID to the information device 11.

[0088] In step S13, the information device 11 sends the supplied user IDto the setting handling computer 22 to request setting of a handlingmode.

[0089] In step S14, the setting handling computer 22 searches the userprofile database 23 to acquire handling mode setting informationassociated with the received user ID. The handling mode settinginformation includes at least periodic-distribution schedule andconnection-destination address.

[0090] In step S15, the setting handling computer 22 sends the acquiredhandling mode setting to the information device 11.

[0091] In step S16, the information device 11 stores, along with theuser ID, the handling mode setting information received from the settinghandling computer 22.

[0092] Note that although in the above procedure, the user 10 operatesthe setting terminal 12 and supplies a user ID to the information device11, this operation may be done for him by a clerk of the dealer ormanufacturer of the information device 11 or an information provider,which will advantageously reduce the troublesome labor of the user 10.

[0093] Also, to make periodic distribution of information, theinformation providing system 1 will go through steps S21 to S28 shown inFIG. 6.

[0094] Namely, first in step S21, the information device 11 having thehandling mode setting information stored therein as above will request,at a time designated in the stored periodic-distribution schedule, therequest handling computer 21 designed as a connection-destinationaddress to distribute information. At this time, the information device11 sends both a user ID stored therein and medium type informationprerecorded therein.

[0095] In step S22, the request handling computer 21 searches the userprofile database 23 according to the received user ID, and in step S23,it will acquire a periodically distributed content associated with theuser ID, and information indicating the type of advertisement genre.

[0096] In step S24, the request handling computer 21 searches thecontent database 24 according to the acquired periodically distributedcontent, information indicating the advertisement genre type and mediumtype of the information device 11, and in step S25, it will acquire aprovided content and an advertisement content provided in addition tothe content. At this time, the contents are converted into a form moreadaptive to the medium type of the information device 11 if necessary.

[0097] Further in step S26, the request handling computer 21 will recorda user ID, date of information provision, provided-content ID and mediumtype to the information provision history database 25.

[0098] In step S27, the request handling computer 21 sends the contentdata to the information device 11.

[0099] In step S28, the information device 11 supplies the receivedcontent data to the user 10.

[0100] Also, for the user to acquire information by actively designatingthe information, the information providing system 1 will go throughsteps S31 to S45 shown in FIG. 7.

[0101] Namely, in step S31, the user 10 operates the information device11 to make a request for provision of information.

[0102] In step S32, the information device 11 requests the requesthandling computer 21 for an information genres list and contents list.

[0103] In step S33, the request handling computer 21 requests thecontent database 24 to generate the information genres list and contentslist.

[0104] In step S34, the content database 24 generates the informationgenres list and contents list and sends them to the request handlingcomputer 21.

[0105] In step S35, the request handling computer 21 sends theinformation genres list and contents list sent from the content database24 to the information device 11.

[0106] In step S36, the information device 11 presents, to the user 10,the information genres list and contents list received from the requesthandling computer 21, and accepts a selection made by the user in stepS37.

[0107] In step S38, the information device 11 sends a user ID and mediumtype stored in an input result of selection to the request handlingcomputer 21.

[0108] In step S39, the request handling computer 21 searches the userprofile database 23 for an advertisement genre associated with thereceived user ID, and acquires the advertisement genre from the userprofile data base 23 in step S40.

[0109] Further in step S41, the request handling computer 21 searchesthe content database 24 according to the result of user's selection,advertisement genre associated with the user ID and medium type of theinformation device 11, received from the information device 11, andacquires, from the content data base 24, a content to be provided andadvertisement content to be added to the content in step S42. At thistime, the contents are converted into a form more adaptive to the mediumtype of the information device 11 if necessary.

[0110] Also in step S43, the request handling computer 21 records theuser ID, date of information provision, provided-content ID and mediumtype to the information provision history database 25.

[0111] Then in step S44, the request handling computer 21 sends contentdata to the information device 11.

[0112] In step S45, the information device 11 supplies the user 10 withthe content data received from the request handling computer 21.

[0113] Note that in case the information genres list and contents listinclude no information the user desires, the information device 11 maysend a keyword to the request handling computer 21 or content database24, instead of any result of user's selection it sends to the requesthandling computer 21 as above, to make a keyword search by the requesthandling computer 21 or content database 24 and takes, as a content tobe provided, data hit by the keyword.

[0114] Also, to change entered information, the information providingsystem 1 will go through steps S51 to S61 shown in FIG. 8.

[0115] That is, in step S51, the user 10 makes a request for changingthe entered information by supplying a user ID to the setting terminal12.

[0116] In step S52, the setting terminal 12 sends the supplied user IDto the setting handling computer 22 to make a request for currentsettings, information genres list and contents list.

[0117] In step S53, the setting handling computer 22 searches the userprofile database 23 according to the user ID received from the settingterminal 12, and acquires user information associated with the user IDfrom the user profile database 23 in step S54.

[0118] Further in step S55, the setting handling computer 22 requeststhe content database 24 to generate an information genres list andcontents list.

[0119] In step S56, the content database 24 generates an informationgenres list and contents list and sends them to the setting handlingcomputer 22.

[0120] In step S57, the setting handling computer 22 sends, to thesetting terminal 12, the current settings, information genres list andcontents list acquired from the contents database 24.

[0121] In step S58, the setting terminal 12 presents, to the user 10,the current settings, information genres list and contents list sentfrom the setting handling computer 22.

[0122] In step S59, the user 10 make input of new settings, and thesetting terminal 12 sends the supplied settings to the setting handlingcomputer 22 in step S60.

[0123] In step S61, the setting handling computer 22 records thesettings sent from the information device 11 to the user profiledatabase 23.

[0124] Note that if the information device 11 has the function of thesetting terminal 12, the setting terminal 12 can be operated by theinformation device 11, which will lead to a reduced number of necessarydevices in the information providing system 1 and an improved efficiencyof the operations.

[0125] Also, to update settings of the information device 11, theinformation providing system 1 will go through steps S71 to S74 shown inFIG. 9.

[0126] That is, when the information device 11 issues a request forupdating of settings to the setting handling computer 22 in step S71,the setting handling computer 22 searches the user profile database 23in step S72 to check for any change of the settings.

[0127] In next step S73, the setting handling computer 22 acquiresinformation about a new setting, if any, from the user profile database23. Then in step S74, the setting handling computer 22 transfers theinformation about the new setting acquired from the user profiledatabase 23 to the information device 11 where it will be stored.

[0128] The above updating of settings is explicitly done by operatingthe information device 11. However, it is implicitly done in the processof information acquirement in some cases. In the latter case, therequest handling computer 21 works for the setting handling computer 22,which can attain a higher efficiency of the operations because the userhas to do less operations.

[0129] Note that although the medium type of the information device 11is coped with in the aforementioned information providing system 1, aninformation service can be established fro a specific medium. In thiscase, the designation of a medium type may be omitted from the sequenceof operations on the assumption that a medium type has implicitly beendesignated.

[0130] In the information providing system 1, a user identifier isissued to a user or consumer who makes a contract for informationservice. In the information service contract, there are entered thegenre of information to be provided at the setting terminal 12, a timewhen the information is to be provided, an amount of the information,etc. along with the address, name, age, profession, sexuality, etc. ofthe user. The information thus entered is stored in the server-side userprofile database 23. The user having received the user identifier willenter the latter to the information device 11 such as a TV receiver,video tape recorder, radio receiver, a device capable of playing back aCD, MD or DVD, printer or computer game machine. At this time, theinformation device 11 used by the consumer is capable of connecting tothe Internet 7 (which function is one of the functions necessary forimplementation of the information service). The information device 11will thus acquire necessary settings for acquiring information bysending the entered user identifier to an address, pre-stored in theinformation device 11, of the server-side setting handling computer 22.The information device 11 has a function to implement the informationservice and is sold at a relatively low price in consideration of theinformation service contract. In case the consumer desires a periodicinformation distribution, the information device 11 will automaticallysend a user identifier and information device type identifier to therequest handling computer 21 when an information acquisition timeentered at the time of the information service contract, and acquireinformation about an entered genre in a form matching the informationdevice 11 for provision to the consumer. Also, in case the consumer isactively going to acquire specific information, he or she operates theinformation device 11 to acquire an information list from the requesthandling computer 21 via the Internet. The consumer selects desiredinformation from the acquired information list, operates the informationdevice 11 to send a result of his selection, user identifier andinformation device type identifier to the request handling computer 21,and thus acquires the desired information. In the information provisionto the user, information designated by him as well as an advertisementof a type associated with the information will be provided to the userand an advertisement income will go to a performer of this business. Atthis time, a history of information provision to the user is entered inthe profile database and can be used for analysis of user's preferenceand information provision to an advertiser.

[0131] In the information providing system 1, we can use informationdevices of all types as information distribution terminals on theInternet for acquisition of information available on the Internet as ifwe used a conventional medium. Also, the information provider can gainan advertisement income. The advertiser can limit the informationproviding routes. Using a system of the periodic informationdistribution, the advertiser can distribute an advertisement, whereby asystem in which an information device can be provided to the user with arelatively low price can be applied also to an information device otherthan a free personal computer (PC) which has already been made availablefree of charge because a part or all of the cost of the PC is covered bythe ad rate. Also, since data is converted into a data form matching theinformation device 11 before being sent, it is not necessary to re-sendthe data in a form matching each information device from the PC afterstored in the storage unit or the like of a user-side PC. Namely,digital data will not be stored at the user side. Thus, it is possibleto prevent any illegal copy of digital data.

[0132] Referring now to FIG. 10, there is schematically illustrated inthe form of a block diagram the second embodiment of the informationproviding system according to the present invention. The informationproviding system is generally indicated with a reference number 2.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 10, the information providing system 2 includesa user-side information acquisition device 111, server-side requesthandling computer 121, user profile database 122, content database 123,information handling history database 124, data conversion database 125and a data converter 126.

[0134] The user-side information acquisition device 111 is capable ofproviding information in any of forms like sound, image, paper, etc. Itis connected to the request handling computer 121 via the Internet. Theinformation acquisition device 111 has information pre-stored therein inany information form in which it can provide information, such as JPEG,MPEG, WAV, MP3, ATRAC3, GIF, PNG, html, mail or the like (will bereferred to as “data type” hereinafter).

[0135] The server-side request handling computer 121 is connected to theinformation acquisition device 111 via the Internet 130 and can senddata to, and receive data from, the information acquisition device 111.Also the request handling computer 121 is connected to the user profiledatabase 122, content database 123, information handling historydatabase 124 and data conversion database 125 via a network 127, and canoperate for insertion of information into each of the databases, searchfor information, updating of information, deletion of information, etc.

[0136] The server-side user profile database 122 has user informationrecorded therein, and can provide information hit by a search requested.Also, the user profile database 122 can operate for insertion, updatingand deletion of user information upon request. It issues a useridentifier when entering new user information.

[0137] The user information to be recorded to the user profile database122 will be discussed herebelow:

[0138] The user information includes at least user identifier,preference information, phone number, address and device settingsassociated with each other as shown in FIG. 11.

[0139] The above “user identifier” is an identifier by a number, symbolor the like assigned to each user for unique identification of thelatter.

[0140] The “preference identifier” is one or more information genreidentifiers having been entered as a type or types of information ofinterest by a user having an associated user identifier.

[0141] The “information genre identifier” is an identifier by a number,symbol or the like assigned to each type of information.

[0142] The “device settings” is information about an informationacquisition device 111 used by a user having an associated identifierwhen receiving provided information. It includes an identifier, on thenetwork, of the request handling computer 121 to which the informationacquisition device 111 is connected.

[0143] The server-side content database 123 has content informationrecorded therein, and can provide information hit by a search requested.Also, the content database 123 can insert, update or delete userinformation upon request, and issue an information identifier whenentering new information.

[0144] Content information recorded to the content database 123 will bediscussed herebelow:

[0145] As shown in FIG. 12, the content information includes, inassociation with each other, at least information identifier,information genre identifier, data type identifier, destination useridentifier, title and information-providing user identifier.

[0146] The above “information identifier” is an identifier by a number,symbol or the like for unique identification of information.

[0147] The “information genre identifier” is an identifier by a number,symbol or the like indicating a type to which information having anassociated information identifier belongs.

[0148] The “data type identifier” is an identifier by a number, symbolor the like indicating the type of information content.

[0149] The “destination user identifier” is a user identifier for aninformation acquirer which is to acquire information having anassociated information identifier.

[0150] The “title” is a name, symbol, number or the like simplyrepresenting the content of information having an associated informationidentifier.

[0151] The “information-providing user identifier” is a user identifierfor an information provider having provided information having anassociated information identifier.

[0152] The information handling history database 124 has an informationhandling history, and can provide information hit by a search requested.Also, it can insert, update or delete an information handling historyupon request.

[0153] An information handling history entered in the informationhandling history database 124 will be explained herebelow:

[0154] The information handling history information includes at leastuser identifier, date of information handling, information identifier,data type identifier and handling mode identifier associated with eachother as shown in FIG. 13.

[0155] The above “user identifier” is any of user identifiers entered inthe user profile database 122. It is an identifier by a number, symbolor the like for identification of a user having provided or acquiredinformation.

[0156] The “date of information handling” is a date when information hasbeen handled.

[0157] The “information identifier” is any of information identifiersentered in the content database 123. It is an identifier by a number,symbol or the like for identification of information having beenprovided to the user. The “data type identifier” is an identifier by anumber, symbol or the like indicating the form of the informationhandled. The “handling mode identifier” is an identifier by a number,symbol or the like for identification of which the handling mode is,information provision or acquisition.

[0158] The server-side data conversion database 125 has data conversioninformation recorded therein, and can provide such information when asearch is requested. Also, the data conversion database 125 can insert,update or delete data conversion information upon request.

[0159] Data conversion information recorded in the data conversiondatabase 125 will be discussed herebelow:

[0160] The data conversion information includes at least converteridentifier, input data type identifier and output data type identifierassociated with each other, as shown in FIG. 14.

[0161] The “converter identifier” is an identifier by a name, number,symbol or the like representing a converter being a hardware or softwareor a combination of them to convert information from one data type toanother. This identifier can be used to start up the converter.

[0162] The “input data type identifier” is an identifier by a number,symbol or the like representing a data type allowed as input to aconverter having an associated converter identifier.

[0163] The “output data type identifier” is an identifier by a number,symbol or the like representing the type of a data output from aconverter having an associated converter identifier.

[0164] The server-side data converter 126 is a hardware or software or acombination of them for conversion of information from one data typeinto another, connected to the request handling computer 121. Itreceives input data of a specific form from the request handlingcomputer 121, and sends back a form-converted data to the requesthandling computer 121.

[0165] In the information providing system 2 shown in FIG. 10, all thesever-side request handling computer 121, user profile database 122,content database 123, information handling history database 124, dataconversion database 125 and data converter 126 may be installed asseparate devices or in an arbitrary combination or combinations.

[0166] The information providing system 2 constructed as above functionsas will be described herebelow:

[0167] For conversion of information from one data type into anotherthrough exchange of information designating an information provider, theinformation providing system 2 will go through steps S101 to S118 shownin FIG. 15 to make operations up to entry of user information andsetting and storage of the user information in the informationacquisition device 111 and operations including from entry ofinformation by the information provider until acquisition of theinformation by an information acquirer.

[0168] That is, in step S101, the information acquirer 110 enters userinformation and device setting information to the request handlingcomputer 121.

[0169] In next step S102, the request handling computer 121 records theentered user information and device setting information to the userprofile database 122. At this time, a user identifier is issued to theinformation acquirer, and it is recorded along with the entered userinformation to the user profile database 122.

[0170] In step S103, the information acquirer 110 supplies his phonenumber to the information acquisition device 111 to designateacquisition of setting information.

[0171] In step S104, the information acquisition device 111 requests,according to the supplied phone number, the server-side request handlingcomputer 121 for acquisition of setting information.

[0172] In step S105, the request handling computer 121 searches the userprofile database 122 according to the phone number received from theinformation acquisition device 111 to acquire corresponding settinginformation from the user profile database 122.

[0173] In step S106, the setting information is sent from the requesthandling computer 121 to the information acquisition device 111 where itwill be stored.

[0174] In step S107, the request handling computer 121 makes a call tothe phone number received from the information acquisition device 111 toinform the called side that settings have been made, and requests thecalled side to check if any matter corresponding to the settings thusmade has take place and to inform a predetermined destination that nocorresponding matter has take place, if applicable.

[0175] The operations down to this phase cover the registration of userinformation.

[0176] Next in step S108, the information provider 120 will sendinformation, data type identifier for the information, its own useridentifier, destination user identifier, tile of the information andinformation genre identifier to which the information belongs to therequest handling computer 121 where the information will be entered.

[0177] In step S109, the request handling computer 121 having acceptedthe information entry records the acquired information to the contentdatabase 123. At this time, an information identifier is issued andrecorded along with the information to the content database 123.

[0178] In step S110, the request handling computer 121 informs that theuser identifier for the information provider 120, informationidentifier, data type and handling mode are for entry of information,and records the information along with a date of data handling to theinformation handling history database 124.

[0179] Steps S108 and S109 cover the entry of information by theinformation provider 120. The entry is done once or repeated severaltimes.

[0180] Next in step S111, the information acquirer 110 requests, by theinformation acquisition device 111, the request handling computer 121for acquisition of information. At this time, the informationacquisition device 111 extracts a user identifier from the settinginformation stored in addition to already recorded reproducible datatype identifier, and sends it to the request handling computer 121.

[0181] In step S112, the request handling computer 121 acquires userinformation from the user profile database 122 according to the receiveduser identifier.

[0182] In step S113, the request handling computer 121 searches thecontent database 123 according to the acquired user information underany of the following conditions a and b:

[0183] Condition a: Destination user identifier coincides with the useridentifier for the information acquirer 110.

[0184] Condition b: Information genre identifier coincides withpreference information pre-entered by the information acquirer 110.

[0185] Further in step S114, the request handling computer 121identifies the data converter 126 by searching the data conversiondatabase 125 with the data type identifier for the information hit bythe search being taken as an input data type identifier and the datatype identifier received from the information acquisition device 111being taken as an output data type identifier.

[0186] Then in step S115, the request handling computer 121 passes theinformation hit in step S114 to the data converter 126 to make a requestfor data type conversion.

[0187] In step S116, the data converter 126 converts the informationreceived from the request handling computer 121 in data type and passesit to the request handling computer 121.

[0188] In step S117, the request handling computer 121 informs that theuser identifier for the information acquirer, information identifier,data type and handling mode are for acquisition of information, andrecords the information along with a date of data handling to theinformation handling history database 124.

[0189] The request handling computer 121 sends the converted datareceived from the data converter 126 to the information acquirer 110 viathe information acquisition device 111.

[0190] Also, for the information acquirer 110 to acquire information inselection of information according to a requested data type throughexchange of information designating an information acquirer, theinformation providing system 2 will go through steps S121 to S135 shownin FIG. 16.

[0191] The operations in steps S121 to S130 shown in FIG. 16 are thesame as those in steps S101 to S110 shown in FIG. 15. So, theirexplanation will be omitted.

[0192] In step S131, the information acquirer 110 requests, by theinformation acquisition device 111, the request handling computer 121for acquisition of information. At this time, the informationacquisition device 111 extracts a user identifier from settinginformation stored in addition to already recorded reproducible datatype identifier, and sends it to the request handling computer 121.

[0193] In step S132, the request handling computer 121 acquires userinformation from the user profile database 122 according to the receiveduser identified.

[0194] Also in step S133, the request handling computer 121 searches,according to the acquired user information, the content database 123 forinformation meeting both the following conditions A and B: Condition A:Destination user identifier coincides with the user identifier for theinformation acquirer 110. Alternatively, Information genre identifiercoincides with preference information pre-entered by the informationacquirer 110. Condition B: Data type information for informationcoincides with the data type identifier received from the informationacquisition device 111.

[0195] In step S134, the request handling computer 121 informs that theuser identifier for the information acquirer 110, informationidentifier, data type and handling mode are for acquisition ofinformation, and records the information along with the data ofinformation handling to the information handling history database 124.

[0196] Then in step S125, the request handling computer 121 sends datareceived from the content database 123 to the information acquirer 110via the information acquisition device 111.

[0197] For the information acquirer to selectively acquire informationfrom information entered in the system, the information providing system2 will go through steps S141 to S154 shown in FIG. 17 to make operationsincluding from acquisition of information list by the informationacquirer until acquisition of information in case the information has tobe converted in data type.

[0198] That is, in step S141, the information acquirer 110 requests, bythe information acquisition device 111, the request handling computer121 for acquisition of an information list. At this time, theinformation acquisition device 111 extracts a user identifier from thesetting information stored in addition to already recorded reproducibledata type identifier, and sends it to the request handling computer 121.

[0199] In step S142, the request handling computer 121 acquires userinformation from the user profile database 122 according to the useridentifier received from the information acquisition device 111.

[0200] In step S143, the request handling computer 121 searches thecontent database 123 for entered information according to the acquireduser information. At this time, if information to be acquired is limitedunder the following condition, the information acquirer may not receiveany excessive information.

[0201] Condition: Information genre identifier coincides with preferenceinformation pre-entered by the information acquirer 110.

[0202] In step S144, the request handling computer 121 acquires theinformation list from the content database 123.

[0203] Then in step S145, the request handling computer 121 sends theacquired information list to the information acquirer 110 via theinformation acquisition device 111.

[0204] In step S146, the information acquirer 110 selects one or morepieces of information from the received information list, and theinformation acquisition device 111 requests the request handlingcomputer 121 for acquisition of the selected information in step S147.

[0205] In step S148, the request handling computer 121 searches thecontent database 123 for the information requested to acquire by theinformation acquisition device 111, and acquires the informationrequested to acquire by the information acquisition device 111 from thecontent database 123 in step S149.

[0206] In next step S150, the request handling computer 121 searches thedata conversion database 125 with the data type identifier for theacquired information being taken as an input data type identifier andthe data type identifier received from the information acquisitiondevice 111 being taken as an output data type identifier, and identifythe data converter 126.

[0207] In step S151, the request handling computer 121 passes theinformation acquired in step S149 to the data converter 126 and requestsconversion of the information in data type.

[0208] In step S152, the data converter 126 converts the receivedinformation in data type, and passes the information to the requesthandling computer 121.

[0209] In step S153, the request handling computer 121 informs that theuser identifier for the information acquisition device 110, informationidentifier, data type and handling mode are for acquisition ofinformation, and records the information along with the data of datahandling to the information handling history database 124.

[0210] In step S154, the request handling computer 121 sends theconverted data received from the data converter 126 to the informationacquirer 110 via the information acquisition device 111.

[0211] Also, for the information acquirer to selectively acquireinformation from information entered in the system, the informationproviding system 2 will go through steps S161 to S171 shown in FIG. 18to make operations including from acquisition of information list by theinformation acquirer until acquisition of information in caseinformation is selected according to a required data type.

[0212] That is, in step S161, the information acquirer 110 requests, bythe information acquisition device 111, the request handling computer121 for acquisition of an information list. At this time, theinformation acquisition device 111 extracts a user identifier from thesetting information stored in addition to already recorded reproducibledata type identifier, and sends it to the request handling computer 121.

[0213] In step S162, the request handling computer 121 acquires userinformation from the user profile database 122 according to the useridentifier received from the information acquisition device 111.

[0214] In step S163, the request handling computer 121 searches thecontent database 123 for entered information according to the acquireduser information. At this time, if information to be acquired is limitedunder the following condition, the information acquirer may not receiveany excessive information.

[0215] Condition: Information genre identifier coincides with preferenceinformation pre-entered by the information acquirer 110.

[0216] In step S164, the request handling computer 121 acquires theinformation list from the content database 123.

[0217] Then in step S165, the request handling computer 121 sends theacquired information list to the information acquirer 110 via theinformation acquisition device 111.

[0218] In step S166, the information acquirer 110 selects one or morepieces of information from the received information list, and theinformation acquisition device 111 requests the request handlingcomputer 121 for acquisition of the selected information in step S167.

[0219] In step S168, the request handling computer 121 searches thecontent database 123 for the information requested to acquire by theinformation acquisition device 111, and acquires the informationrequested to acquire from the content database 123 in step S169.

[0220] Also in step S170, the request handling computer 121 informs thatthe user identifier for the information acquirer, informationidentifier, data type and handling mode are for acquisition ofinformation, and records the information along with the date ofinformation handling to the information handling history database 124.

[0221] Then in step S171, the request handling computer 121 sends thedata acquired from the content database 123 to the information acquirer110 via the information acquisition device 111.

[0222] That is, in the information providing system 2, theintermediation for the information acquirer to acquire informationprovided by the information provider is done as will be describedherebelow:

[0223] The information provider enters a data type identifier forinformation provided in addition to information provided from theinformation provider into the content database 123 in the informationproviding system 2.

[0224] The information acquirer sends a data type identifiercorresponding to a data type he wants to acquire when requesting toacquire information to the user profile database 122 in the informationproviding system 2.

[0225] Then, in the information providing system 2, information of adata type the information acquirer requests is sent to the informationacquirer by making the following operations: Operation 1: Informationhaving been entered by the information provider in the user profiledatabase 122 is converted into a data type the information acquirer hasrequested. The “conversion” referred to herein includes an equivalentexchange as well. Operation 2: Information matching a data type theinformation acquirer has requested is selected from information havingbeen entered by the information provider in the content database 123.

[0226] Also in the information providing system 2, an intermediation forexchange of information designating an information acquirer is done aswill be described below:

[0227] Namely, a user identifier being unique in the informationproviding system 2 is issued to the information acquirer in advance.

[0228] Also, a user identifier (will be referred to as “destination”hereinafter) for an information acquirer who is to acquire informationprovided by the information provider is also entered.

[0229] At the time of requesting for acquisition of information, theinformation acquirer sends also his own user identifier to the requesthandling computer 121.

[0230] In response to the request for acquisition of information fromthe information acquirer, the server-side request handling computer 121performs the above “operation 1” or “operation 2” by effecting dataconversion or selection for only an information acquirer whose useridentifier coincides with information destination, and sends informationto the information acquirer.

[0231] Also in the information providing system 2, an intermediation fordistribution of an advertisement is done as will be described below:

[0232] That is, the information acquirer pre-enters an information genreidentifier corresponding to an information genre of interest to the userprofile database 122.

[0233] When the information provider provides information, aninformation genre identifier corresponding to an information genre towhich the provided information belongs is also entered into the contentdatabase 123.

[0234] At the time of requesting acquisition of information, theinformation acquirer sends also his own user identifier to theserver-side request handling computer 121.

[0235] In response to a request for acquisition of information from theinformation acquirer, the request handling computer 121 acquirespreference information having been entered by the information acquirerfrom the user profile database 122 according to the user identifier forthe information acquirer, selects one or more pieces of informationmatching the preference information from information having been enteredby the information provider in the content database 123, performs theabove “operation 1” or “operation 2” for the selected information, andsends the information to the information acquirer.

[0236] When sending the information to a user as above, an advertisementis added as will be described below:

[0237] That is, the information acquirer enters an information genreidentifier corresponding to the preference information into the userprofile database 122.

[0238] At the time of requesting acquisition of information, theinformation acquirer sends also his own user identifier to the contentdatabase 123.

[0239] When requesting acquisition of information, the informationacquirer sends also his own user identifier to the request handlingcomputer 121.

[0240] In response to a request for acquisition of information from theinformation acquirer, the request handling computer 121 acquirespreference information having been entered by the information acquirerfrom the user profile database 122 according to the user identifier forthe information acquirer, selects one or more pieces of informationmatching the preference information from information having been enteredby the information provider in the content database 123, performs theabove “operation 1” or “operation 2” for the selected information. Therequest handling computer 121 adds the information thus acquired to userdestination information for sending.

[0241] Also in the information providing system 2, information isselected as will be described below:

[0242] That is, when providing information, the information providerenters also a tile representing the content of the information to beprovided into the content database 123.

[0243] Before requesting acquisition of information, the informationacquirer will request the request handling computer 121 for aninformation list entered in the content database 123 and acquires theinformation list.

[0244] The information acquirer selects one or more pieces ofinformation from the information list, and sends the information to therequest handling computer 121.

[0245] The request handling computer 121 performs the above “operation1” or “operation 2” for the information selected by the informationacquirer, and sends the information to the information acquirer.

[0246] Also in the information providing system 2, the informationacquirer pre-enters user information such as his age, sexuality,profession, address and the like into the user profile database 122, andaccepts a user identifier from the request handling computer 121.

[0247] When having acquired the information, the information acquirerrecords of what genre the acquired information is and in what data typethe information has been acquired into the information handling historydatabase 124, and utilizes the information along with the entered useridentifier as marketing data.

[0248] Also in the information providing system 2, when accepting theuser identifier issued, the information acquirer enters his phone numberinto the user profile database 122.

[0249] The information acquirer informs the request handling computer121 of his phone number via the information acquisition device 111 usedfor acquisition and utilization of the information.

[0250] The request handling computer 121 having received the phonenumber from the information acquirer searches the user identifiersentered in the user profile database 122 for a one whose entered phonenumber coincides with the received phone number, and sends the useridentifier to the information acquisition device 111.

[0251] The information acquisition device 111 will store the receiveduser identifier for utilization thereof when making a subsequent requestfor acquisition of information.

[0252] Also, to assure that the received phone number has been sent fromthe information acquirer having entered it into the user profiledatabase 122, the request handling computer 121 calls the received phonenumber, and informs the called side that the user identifier has beenacquired based on the phone number, and requests the called side tocheck if there has taken place any matter corresponding to theinformation acquisition done using the phone number and to answer backto the calling side to inform that no such corresponding matter hastaken place, if applicable.

[0253] Note that in case there is information to be set in theinformation acquisition device 111 in addition to the user identifiersuch as a password, the information is also sent from the requesthandling computer 121 to the information acquisition device 111 in whichit will be set.

[0254] In the information providing system 2, all information devicesare used as information distribution terminals on the Internet such thatwe can acquire information available on the Internet as if we used aconventional medium. The advertiser can limit the information providingroutes. Since information is pre-converted into a data form matching theinformation acquisition device 111 before being sent, it is notnecessary to store data into a storage unit of a user-side PC or thelike and then re-send it in a form matching each device from the PC andthus digital data will not be stored at the user side. Thus, it ispossible to prevent digital data from being illegally copied. Withextremely simple operations of the device, information available on theInternet can be acquired. Further, information can be exchanged evenbetween devices supporting different data types.

[0255] Also in the information providing system 2, even an informationdevice with no complicated input unit can acquire information from theInternet and utilize the information. In addition, in the informationproviding system 2, the information provider can provide informationwithout so much awareness of the type of a device used by an informationacquirer, which will enable higher-efficiency exchange of information.

[0256] The present invention will be described concerning embodiments toattain the previously mentioned second object.

[0257] Referring now to FIG. 19, there is schematically illustrated inthe form of a block diagram the embodiment of the information providingsystem according to the present invention. The information providingsystem is generally indicated with a reference number 210.

[0258] As shown in FIG. 19, the information providing system 210includes a printer 201 as a user-side terminal, an information servingdevice 204 to which the printer 201 is connected via the Internet, acontent database 205 connected to the information serving device 204,and a printing raw data generator 206.

[0259] The printer 201 includes a printer controller 202, and a printingengine 203 connected to the printer controller 202.

[0260] The printer controller 202 can be connected to the Internet andcan send and received data to and from the Internet. Also, it can sendand receive data to and from the printing engine 203. Further, theprinter controller 202 can accept a request for printing from a user.

[0261] The printing engine 203 can print out data received from theprinter controller 202.

[0262] The information serving device 204 is a computer connectable tothe Internet and which can send and receive data to and from theInternet. The information serving device 204 is connected to the contentdatabase 205, and can search the content database 205 to read data fromthe latter. Also, the information providing device 204 is connected tothe printing raw data generator 206, and can send and receive data toand from the printing raw data generator 206.

[0263] The content database 205 can send and receive data to and fromthe information serving device 204. The content database 205 can store,search and read data in response to a request from the informationserving device 204.

[0264] Further, the printing raw data generator 206 is a computerdifferent from the computer as the information serving device 204. Itcan send and receive data to and from the information serving device 204connected thereto. Also, the printing raw data generator 206 can convertdata acquired by the information serving device 204 from the contentdatabase 205 into a form the printing engine 203 in the printer 201 asthe user-side terminal can interpret, that is, into a form of theprinting raw data.

[0265] Note that the printing raw data generator 206 may be a softwaremodule operable on the information serving device 204.

[0266] In the information providing system 210 constructed as above,information provided from the Internet-side information serving device204 is printed out by the printer 201 as the user-side terminal as shownin FIG. 20.

[0267] More specifically, first in step S201, the printer controller 202receives a request for printing from a user. At this time, the printrequest includes a data identifier which identifies data to be printed.

[0268] In next step S202, the printer controller 202 sends a dataidentifier designated in a print request from the user to theinformation serving device 204 to make a request for data.

[0269] In step S203, the information serving device 204 sends, to thecontent database 205, a data identifier included in the data requestfrom the printer controller 202 to make a request for data.

[0270] In step S204, the content database 205 searches datacorresponding to the designated data identifier and transfers the datato the information serving device 204.

[0271] In step S205, the information serving device 204 sends the datareceived from the content database 205 to the printing raw datagenerator 206 to make a request for conversion of the data into theprinting raw data.

[0272] In step S206, the printing raw data generator 206 generates, forthe data received from the content database 205, printing raw dataincluding raster data in a to-be-printed image and printer controlcommand.

[0273] In step S207, the printing raw data generator 206 sends theprinting raw data thus generated to the information serving device 204.

[0274] In step S208, the information serving device 204 sends theprinting raw data received from the printing raw data generator 206 tothe printer controller 202. At this time, the data is compressed for thesending. The data compression may be done after the printing raw data isgenerated in step S206. Also, the data to be sent should more preferablybe encoded.

[0275] Then in step S209, the printer controller 202 sends the printingraw data received from the information serving device 204 to theprinting engine 203 for printing the data. At this time, all data may besent to the printing engine 203 at once or at a plurality of times. Inthe latter case, printing can advantageously be done while the operatingcondition of the printing engine 203 is being checked. Also, in case theprinting raw data received from the information serving device 204 hasbeen encoded, printing raw data decoded by the printer controller 202 issent to the printing engine 203.

[0276] In the information providing system 210, since digital data willnot be stored at the user-side terminal, it is extremely difficult tocopy the digital data illegally.

[0277] Also, since the printing raw data is generated at the informationserving device 204, the printer 201 may not have any function ofpreparing printing raw data, so that the printer 201 can be provided ata lower price.

[0278] Note that in case the printer 201 includes the printing raw datagenerator 206 as shown in FIG. 21, the form of data sent from theinformation serving device 204 to the printer controller 202 may be anyof HTML, JPEG, GIF, PNG, DOPF, EXIF, TIFF, PDF, PostScript and the likewhich would allow the printing raw data generator 206 to convert thedata into the printing raw data.

[0279] More specifically, in the information providing method accordingto the present invention and carried out in the information providingsystem 210, when printing data available on the Internet, printing rawdata including raster data in a to-be-printed image and printer controlcommand is generated at the data sending side on the Internet and theprinting raw data thus generated is sent. The operation for generatingand sending the printing raw data can dynamically be done at eachrequest for printing. Also, the generated printing raw data can be sentdirectly to the printer via the Internet for printing thereof. Further,the generated printing raw data can be compressed for the sending.

[0280] Also in the information providing system 210, the informationserving device 204 searches, in response to a print request from theuser-side printer 201, the content database 205 for data correspondingto the print request, generates printing raw data including raster datain a to-be-printed image in the data read from the content database 205and printer control command, and sends the printing raw data thusgenerated via the Internet. Also, the information serving device 204dynamically generates and sends the printing raw data at each requestfor printing. Moreover, the information serving device 204 can send thegenerated printing raw data directly to the user-side printer 201 viathe Internet. Furthermore, the information serving device 204 cancompress the generated printing raw data for the sending.

[0281] As having been described in the foregoing, the aforementionedfirst object of the present invention is attained as follows:

[0282] By issuing a user identifier to a user who makes a contract forinformation service and has an information device capable of setting auser identifier carrying a medium type indicating the type ofinformation matching the information device and of connection to thenetwork, and entering and storing user profile data indicatinginformation to be provided correspondingly to the user identifier, adatabase having recorded therein content data associated with the mediumtype and information genre can be searched by the request handling meansin response to a request from the information device to acquireinformation to be provided according to the user profile data, and theacquired information can be provided as content data of a medium typematching the information device to the information device via thenetwork.

[0283] Also, according to the present invention, a user identifier isissued to a user who makes a contract for information service and has aninformation device capable of setting a user identifier carrying a datatype indicating the type of information matching the information deviceand of connection to the network, and entering and storing user profiledata indicating information to be provided correspondingly to the useridentifier is entered and stored, whereby a database having recordedtherein content data associated with the data type and information genrecan be searched by the request handling means in response to a requestfrom the information device to acquire information to be providedaccording to the user profile data, the information be converted by thedata converting means into a data type matching the information deviceaccording to data conversion information for conversion of informationfrom a data type into another, and the information thus converted can beprovided to the information device.

[0284] Therefore, the present invention enables even an informationdevice without any complicated input unit to acquire information fromthe Internet for utilization thereof and the information provider toprovide information without so much awareness of the type of a deviceused the an information acquirer, which will enable higher-efficiencyexchange of information.

[0285] Further, the second object of the present invention is attainedas will be described below:

[0286] In an information providing system including an informationserving device and user-side printer, connected to each other via theInternet, the information serving device searches, in response to aprint request from the user-side printer, a database for datacorresponding to the print request, a printing raw data including rasterdata in a to be-printed image of the data read from the data base isgenerated, and the printing raw data thus generated is sent via theInternet. Therefore, when printing data available on the Internet,digital data in the to be-printed image will not be stored at theuser-side terminal but an image can be printed out from the user-sideprinter as the user-side terminal.

[0287] Since the digital data will not be stored at the user-sideterminal when printing out data available on the Internet, it isextremely difficult to copy the digital data illegally. Also, since theinformation serving device generates a printing raw data, the printermay not have any function of generating a printing raw data and can beprovided at a low price.

1. An method of providing information, via a network, to an informationdevice capable of setting a user identifier carrying a medium typeindicating an information type matching the information device andidentifying an information-provided user, and also capable of connectionto the network, the method comprising the steps of: issuing a useridentifier to a user who makes a contract for an information service,and entering and storing user profile data indicating information to beprovided correspondingly to the user identifier; searching, upon requestfrom the information device, a database having recorded therein contentdata associated with a medium type and information genre to acquire theinformation to be provided based on the user profile data; and providingthe information as content data of the medium type matching theinformation device to the information device via the network.
 2. Themethod as set forth in claim 1, wherein there is stored an informationprovision history of the content data having been provided to the user.3. An method of providing information, via a network, to an informationdevice capable of setting a user identifier carrying a data typeindicating an information type matching the information device andidentifying an information-provided user, and also capable of connectionto the network, the method comprising the steps of: issuing a useridentifier to a user who makes a contract for an information service,and entering and storing user profile data indicating information to beprovided correspondingly to the user identifier; searching, upon requestfrom the information device, a database having recorded therein contentdata associated with a medium type and information genre to acquire,from the database, information to be provided based on the user profiledata; and converting the information into content data of the data typematching the information device according to data conversion informationfor conversion of information in data type from one into another, andproviding the information to the information device.
 4. The method asset forth in claim 3, wherein from the database having recorded therein,in association with each other, the content data including aninformation identifier for uniquely identifying information, informationgenre identifier indicating a genre to which information having anassociated information identifier belongs, data type identifierindicating a type of the information content, destination useridentifier for an information-acquiring user who is to acquire theinformation having the associated information identifier, titlerepresenting the content of the information having the associatedinformation identifier, and an information-providing user identifierindicating an information provider having provided the informationhaving the associated information identifier, content data correspondingto a request from the information device is acquired, converted intocontent data of the data type matching the information device, andprovided to the information device.
 5. The method as set forth in claim3, wherein based on the data conversion information acquired from thedatabase having recorded therein, in association with each other, thedata conversion information including a converter identifier indicatinga converter which converts information from a data type into another, aninput data type identifier indicating a data type allowed for input to aconverter having a converter identifier associated therewith, and anoutput data type identifier indicating a data type of data output fromthe converter having the associated converter identifier, theinformation is converted into content data of the data type matching theinformation device, and provided to the information device.
 6. Themethod as set forth in claim 3, wherein information, which is to beprovided based on the user profile data acquired from the databasehaving recorded therein, in association with each other, the userprofile data including an user identifier, preference information, phonenumber and device setting information, is acquired from the database,converted into content data of the data type matching the informationdevice, and provided to the information device.
 7. The method as setforth in claim 3, wherein there is stored an information handlinghistory of the content data having been provided to the user.
 8. Themethod as set forth in claim 7, wherein there are stored in associationwith each other as information included in the information handlinghistory a user identifier for identifying a user having provided oracquired information, date of the information handling, informationidentifier for identifying information having been provided to the user,data type identifier indicating a type of information having beenacquired, and an operation identifier for identifying for which the modeof information handling operation is, information provision oracquisition.
 9. An information providing system comprising: aninformation device capable of setting a user identifier carrying amedium type indicating an information type matching the informationdevice and identifying an information-provided user, and also capable ofconnection to a network; and an information serving device to which theinformation device is connected via the network, the information servingdevice including: a database having recorded therein user profile dataindicating information to be served correspondingly to the useridentifier and content data associated with a medium type andinformation genre; and a request handling means for searching, uponrequest from the information device, the database to acquire the contentdata from the database and supplying the information device with thecontent data as content data of a medium type matching the informationdevice.
 10. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the requesthandling means records the information provision history of the contentdata having been provided to the user.
 11. An information providingsystem comprising: an information device capable of setting a useridentifier carrying a data type indicating an information type matchingthe information device and identifying an information-provided user, andalso capable of connection to a network; and an information servingdevice to which the information device is connected via the network, theinformation serving device including: a database having recorded thereinuser profile data indicating information to be served correspondingly tothe user identifier for a user having made a contract for an informationservice, content data associated with a medium type and informationgenre and data conversion information for conversion of information indata type from one into another; a data converting means for convertingcontent data in data type from one into another; and a request handlingmeans for searching, upon request from the information device, thedatabase having recorded therein the content data associated with thedata type and information genre to acquire, from the database,information to be provided based on the user profile data, convertingthe information by the data converting means according to the dataconversion information into content data of the data type matching theinformation device, and providing the information to the informationdevice.
 12. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the databasehas recorded therein, in association with each other, the content dataincluding an information identifier for uniquely identifyinginformation, information genre identifier indicating a genre to whichinformation having an associated information identifier belongs, datatype identifier indicating a type of the information content,destination user identifier for an information-acquiring user who is toacquire the information having the associated information identifier,title representing the content of the information having the associatedinformation identifier, and an information-providing user identifierindicating an information provider having provided the informationhaving the associated information identifier.
 13. The system as setforth in claim 11, wherein the database has recorded therein, inassociation with each other, the data conversion information including aconverter identifier indicating a converter which converts informationfrom a data type into another, an input data type identifier indicatinga data type allowed for input to a converter having a converteridentifier associated therewith, and an output data type identifierindicating a data type of data output from the converter having theassociated converter identifier.
 14. The system as set forth in claim11, wherein the database has recorded therein, in association with eachother, the user profile data including an user identifier, preferenceinformation, phone number and device setting information.
 15. The systemas set forth in claim 11, wherein the request handling means records, tothe database, an information handling history of the content data havingbeen provided to the user.
 16. The system as set forth in claim 15,wherein the request handling means records, to the database inassociation with each other, a user identifier for identifying a userhaving provided or acquired information, date of the informationhandling, information identifier for identifying information having beenprovided to the user, data type identifier indicating a type ofinformation having been acquired, and an operation identifier foridentifying for which the mode of information handling operation is,information provision or acquisition, as information included in theinformation handling history.
 17. An information serving device to whichthere is connected via a network an information device capable ofsetting a user identifier carrying a medium type indicating aninformation type matching the information device and identifying aninformation-provided user, and also capable of connection to a networkis connected via the network, the information serving device comprising:a database having recorded therein user profile data indicatinginformation to be served correspondingly to the user identifier andcontent data associated with a medium type and information genre; and arequest handling means for searching, upon request from the informationdevice, the database to acquire the content data from the database andsupplying the information device with the content data as content dataof a medium type matching the information device.
 18. The device as setforth in claim 17, wherein the request handling means records, to thedatabase, an information provision history of the content data havingbeen provided to the user.
 19. An information serving device to whichthere is connected via a network an information device capable ofsetting a user identifier carrying a data type indicating an informationtype matching the information device and identifying aninformation-provided user, and also capable of connection to a networkis connected via the network, the information serving device comprising:a database having recorded therein user profile data indicatinginformation to be served correspondingly to the user identifier for auser having made a contract for information service, content dataassociated with a medium type and information genre and data conversioninformation for conversion of information in data type from one intoanother; a data converting means for converting content data in datatype from one into another; and a request handling means for searching,upon request from the information device, the database having recordedtherein the content data associated with the data type and informationgenre to acquire, from the database, information to be provided based onthe user profile data, converting the information by the data convertingmeans according to the data conversion information into content data ofthe data type matching the information device, and providing theinformation to the information device.
 20. The device as set forth inclaim 19, wherein the database has recorded therein, in association witheach other, the content data including an information identifier foruniquely identifying information, information genre identifierindicating a genre to which information having an associated informationidentifier belongs, data type identifier indicating a type of theinformation content, destination user identifier for an informationacquiring user who is to acquire the information having the associatedinformation identifier, title representing the content of theinformation having the associated information identifier, and aninformation-providing user identifier indicating an information providerhaving provided the information having the associated informationidentifier.
 21. The device as set forth in claim 19, wherein thedatabase has recorded therein, in association with each other, the dataconversion information including a converter identifier indicating aconverter which converts information from a data type into another, aninput data type identifier indicating a data type allowed for input to aconverter having a converter identifier associated therewith, and anoutput data type identifier indicating a data type of data output fromthe converter having the associated converter identifier.
 22. The deviceas set forth in claim 19, wherein the database has recorded therein, inassociation with each other, the user profile data including an useridentifier, preference information, phone number and device settinginformation.
 23. The device as set forth in claim 19, wherein therequest handling means records, to the database, an information handlinghistory of the content data having been provided to the user.
 24. Thedevice as set forth in claim 23, wherein the request handling meansrecords, to the database in association with each other, a useridentifier for identifying a user having provided or acquiredinformation, date of the information handling, information identifierfor identifying information having been provided to the user, data typeidentifier indicating a type of information having been acquired, and anoperation identifier for identifying for which the mode of informationhandling operation is, information provision or acquisition, asinformation included in the information handling history.
 25. Aninformation providing method the steps of: generating, when printing outdata available on the Internet, printing raw data including raster dataon to be-printed image and printer control command at a data sendingside on the Internet; and sending the printing raw data thus generated.26. The method as set forth in claim 25, wherein the operations forgenerating and sending the printing raw data are dynamically done uponeach request for printing.
 27. The method as set forth in claim 25,wherein the generated printing raw data is sent directly to a printervia the Internet for printing at the printer.
 28. The method as setforth in claim 26, wherein the generated printing raw data is sent incompressed form.
 29. An information providing system including aninformation serving device and user-side printer both connected theretovia the Internet, the information serving device operating to: search,upon print request from the user-side printer, a database for datacorresponding to the print request; generate printing raw data includingraster data on to-be-printed image in the data read from the databaseand printer control command; and sending the printing raw data thusgenerated via the Internet.
 30. The system as set forth in claim 29,wherein the information serving device generates and sends the printingraw data dynamically upon each request for printing.
 31. The system asset forth in claim 29, wherein the information serving device sends thegenerated printing raw data directly to a user-side printer via theInternet for printing at the printer.
 32. The system as set forth inclaim 31, wherein the information serving device sends the generatedprinting raw data in compressed form.
 33. An information serving deviceoperating to: search, upon print request from the user-side printer, adatabase for data corresponding to the print request; generate printingraw data including raster data in a to be-printed image in the data readfrom the database and printer control command; and sending the printingraw data thus generated via the Internet.
 34. The device as set forth inclaim 33, wherein the operations for generating and sending the printingraw data are dynamically done upon each request for printing.
 35. Thedevice as set forth in claim 33, wherein the generated printing raw datais sent directly to a user-side printer via the Internet for printing atthe printer.
 36. The device as set forth in claim 35, wherein thegenerated printing raw data is sent in compressed form.